![Trimming composites gets the full PPE job. [Credit: Eric Stewart]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-2.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "A Few of My Favorite Tools")
![Lowell Farrand spent years serving as an FAA DAR and is in the EAA Hall of Fame. He offers sound advise to builders. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-4.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like a Builder")
![Author Bill Wilson takes a break from measuring and cutting the Lexan windshield during his Onex build. [All Images Credit to Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-2.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like A Builder")
Oil Recycling
We all try our best to recycle and protect the environment. We haul waste oil to a recycle facility, pour fresh oil into our...
Easy Hole Spacing
One of the curses of modern CAD technology is that designers can draw something up, then have the computer dimension it on the drawing...
Evaluating a Used Engine
How do you decide, without taking an engine completely apart, whether or not it will give you at least several years of good service?
Oh Nuts!
Well actually... "Oh nut!" What do you do when you drop a nut inside a fuel tank with a hole too small to get...
Easy Hole Spacing
One of the curses of modern CAD technology is that designers can draw something up, then have the computer dimension it for them on...
In Case You Missed It
Dressing Up an RV-12
Van’s RV-12 builder Dave Martin was inspired to add wheelpants to his airplane after seeing the company prototype with them.
Wind Tunnel
This month we use the accumulated flight-test data to determine what exactly is causing the unacceptable flying qualities of the airplane so that the best way to fix the problem can be identified;
What’s New
The Dakota Cub Super 18-180 kit debuts, Dynon updates its autopilot software for EFIS units, and AeroLEDs updates its SunSport landing light. Edited by Mary Bernard.